Alex Rodriguez Tests Replay with Monster HR, Yanks Win 8-4

TAMPA—The Yankees (75-64) won again against Tampa Bay, beating them 8-4 to keep their playoff hopes alive, but not before testing a new system by baseball.

Alex Rodriguez hit a deep fly ball to left field that was upheld by the first use of MLB's instant replay system in a ball that hit the cat-walk high above in Tropicana Field. 

The massive shot turned out to be a two-run home run, his 31st of the season and 549th of his career, moving him past Mike Schmidt on the all-time list.  He has now homered on back-to-back nights in Tampa.

That gives A-Rod two home runs and nine RBI after the third game of a 10-game road trip.

"There's probably 800 players in the big leagues, and the odds of me being involved were probably two-to-one," Rodriguez said. "It's funny. Somehow I find myself in those situations all the time. It was just nice to get the right call and get a fair ruling."

If you recall, back on May 21 the umpires at Yankee Stadium took a home run away from A-Rod that was clearly at least two feet over the top of the wall when it hit off a set of steps in right center.  Instant replay was not a part of baseball then, having only been in baseball for a week now.  It is nice to see him get one of his home runs back in a way.

Edwar Ramirez (5-1) came in relief in the fifth to get the win.  Carl Pavano (2-0) received a no decision, failing to get out of that inning. Ramirez got him and the Yankees out of a bases-loaded-no-one-out jam.

Edwin Jackson moved to 11-9 on the season with the loss.  Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano, Ivan Rodriguez, and Jason Giambi all had RBI doubles off of Jackson, who gave up 10 hits and six earned runs in 3.1 innings of work in a very rough outing.

Phil Coke and Brian Bruney came on to pitch three innings of work, handing the ball over to Jose Veras in the ninth.  Veras gave up an RBI double to close the lead to four runs, but sealed the deal after that.

The win moves the Yankees 10 games out of the east and they remain seven games out of the Wild Card.

In clinching the series with the Rays, it is Tampa Bay's first series loss since the All-Star break and a huge series win for the Yankees.

They will look to sweeten the pot with a sweep tomorrow night as Darrell Rasner (5-9, 5.08) takes on Scott Kazmir (10-6, 3.13). 

Kazmir has 140 strikeouts on the year, with 12 of those in 11 innings of work against the Yankees.  He won his outing against the Yankees in May at home, but lost on July 8 at Yankee Stadium. 

After tomorrow's game, the Yankees head to Seattle for a three-game series against the Mariners.